MIDVALE, Utah, Nov. 20, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — Charges have been filed against a fourth suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a Midvale man outside a family wedding.
Victim Oscar Avila, 28, was killed in the Nov. 6 attack, at 145 E. Fort Union Blvd., which police have said is believed to involve four suspects. A police report says formal charges would be filed Friday by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office.
The final suspect, arrested Thursday by officers of the Unified Police Department, is Troy Latorio Kajiyama, 19.
Kajiyama faces charges of:
- Possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a first-degree felony
- Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony
Guillermo Herrera, 19, arrested Nov. 13, faces charges of:
- Murder, a first-degree felony
- Riot, bodily injury/property damage/arson/dangerous weapon, a second-degree felony
- Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony
- Three counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony
- Use or possession of a firearm by a restricted person
Herrera is currently waiting sentencing on a 2020 shooting in which he paralyzed the victim, his probable cause statement says.
Daniel Brando Garcia, 22, booked Nov. 11, faces charges of:
- Obstruction of justice, a second degree felony
- Bodily injury/property damage/arson/dangerous weapon, a second-degree felony
Marqus Paul James, 22, booked Nov. 10, faces charges of:
- Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony
- Violation of probation or parole, a third-degree felony
The confrontation
Avila was a guest at the wedding, which was for his parents. Guillermo and the suspects had come to the wedding, and witnesses said they had been creating problems.
“As they were being escorted out of the building a fight broke out and O.A. (Oscar Avila) was shot,” says Herrera’s probable cause statement, filed by an officer of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
“Patrol Officers contained the scene and detectives were called out.”
The witnesses told officers that Herrera pointed his firearm at three people, including Avila’s mother. The witnesses also told officers Avila was on the ground when Herrera shot him. After the shots were fired, Herrera and the three other suspects fled the scene, the statement says.
Preliminary results of Avila’s autopsy found he died from a gunshot to the chest.
Gephardt Daily will have more information as details become available.
